Cellular phenotype database: a repository for systems microscopy data

Bioinformatics. 2015 Aug 15;31(16):2736-40. doi: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btv199. Epub 2015 Apr 9.

Abstract

Motivation: The Cellular Phenotype Database (CPD) is a repository for data derived from high-throughput systems microscopy studies. The aims of this resource are: (i) to provide easy access to cellular phenotype and molecular localization data for the broader research community; (ii) to facilitate integration of independent phenotypic studies by means of data aggregation techniques, including use of an ontology and (iii) to facilitate development of analytical methods in this field.

Results: In this article we present CPD, its data structure and user interface, propose a minimal set of information describing RNA interference experiments, and suggest a generic schema for management and aggregation of outputs from phenotypic or molecular localization experiments. The database has a flexible structure for management of data from heterogeneous sources of systems microscopy experimental outputs generated by a variety of protocols and technologies and can be queried by gene, reagent, gene attribute, study keywords, phenotype or ontology terms.

Availability and implementation: CPD is developed as part of the Systems Microscopy Network of Excellence and is accessible at http://www.ebi.ac.uk/fg/sym.

Contact: jes@ebi.ac.uk or ugis@ebi.ac.uk

Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cells / cytology*
  • Databases as Topic*
  • Microscopy / methods*
  • Phenotype
  • Statistics as Topic
  • User-Computer Interface